Today National has launched yet
more legislation aimed at further criminalising and
pauperising beneficiaries - and their partners, says
Auckland Action Against Poverty spokesperson Sarah Thompson.

“People who are not in the welfare system rarely
understand how intrusive Work and Income is in judging when
and if people are in relationships in the nature of
marriage.

“It's no surprise that so much 'fraud' occurs
in this area, as one person's 'marriage' can mean something
quite different in reality.

“The effect of these
changes will be that even more low income people are
criminalised because of the State's interference in this
sensitive area, and will lose what income and assets they
may have.

“An increase in intimate partner violence is
another likely result leading from the threat of partner
prosecution.

“A new category of beneficiaries will be
created called 'low trust beneficiaries' - who will be
treated as an inferior class of beneficiary, subject to even
more intimidation and harassment than already applies.

“This legislation will further entrench the dangerous
place beneficiaries already occupy in the New Zealand psyche
as the group of people most discriminated against, as per
the recent Human Rights Commission report.

“Increased
information sharing between agencies and the fact that MSD
has no obligation to let people know they are under
investigation are further proof that the government leaves
no stone unturned in its bid to prosecute and persecute
people on or applying for benefits.

“Auckland Action
Against Poverty believes that ultimately the only real
solution to this horrendous blame and shame culture is the
introduction of a UBI, a universal basic income which will
do away with this whole state apparatus of control over
human relationships, more reminiscent of a totalitarian
state than of a free and compassionate society.

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